Many women suffer from infertility problems. Western medicine uses surgical procedures to assist patients in fertilization and ovulation. Although many couples have children through these procedures, they often come with adverse reactions and low success rates.
From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, surgery is a temporary solution and does not address the root cause of infertility. Infertility is mainly caused by kidney deficiency, liver qi stagnation, and phlegm and dampness obstruction. Therefore, in order to treat infertility, the focus should be on nourishing the kidneys and protecting the liver, warming and nourishing kidney qi, enriching essence and blood, regulating the chong and ren channels, and harmonizing qi and blood. The kidneys, spleen, and liver are all essential for pregnancy, and the spleen and stomach play a decisive role in infertility.
A healthy spleen and stomach are necessary to nourish qi and blood and enable conception. The spleen and stomach are the foundation of the acquired constitution. When the spleen and stomach are healthy, qi and blood can be produced. For women, blood is essential for menstruation, fertility, and childbirth. The production of qi, blood, and menstrual fluid all depend on the functioning of the spleen and stomach. Qi and blood are the foundation of pregnancy, and only when enough blood flows to the uterus, nourishing the chong and ren channels, can successful conception occur after menstruation.
I know a woman who is over thirty years old and has been married for five years without children. She often feels tired, lacks energy, and has no appetite. Her menstrual cycle is long, and the flow is scanty. She has visited many large hospitals without any improvement. Later, an experienced TCM doctor prescribed her a formula to regulate her spleen and stomach and advised her to take it regularly.
The spleen is responsible for digestion and plays a role in the circulation of blood throughout the body. It prevents blood from leaking out of the vessels. When the spleen and stomach are functioning properly, the source of qi and blood production is abundant, and the function of qi and blood circulation is normal, allowing female reproductive functions to be normal. If the spleen is deficient and its function is impaired, the source of qi and blood production will be affected, leading to a depletion of blood, longer menstrual intervals, and reduced flow. In severe cases, it may even cause amenorrhea. Without menstrual blood, it is impossible to conceive and become pregnant.
Conception relies on the production of qi and blood by the stomach. Only when the stomach functions properly and qi and blood are sufficient can the uterus be nourished. The woman mentioned earlier was unable to conceive because of excessive mental stress, lack of appetite, and long-term depletion of her body's vitality, which damaged her spleen. When the spleen is deficient, the nourishment of the chong mai is lost, making conception impossible. Even if conception occurs, it may result in miscarriage.
According to "Women's Classics - Menstrual Meridians," the treatment for this condition is to "observe the pulse and symptoms to regulate menstruation." However, deficiency is more common while excess is rare. Therefore, the key to regulating menstruation is to nourish the spleen and replenish the source of blood, as well as nourish kidney qi to stabilize the blood chamber. A healthy spleen and abundant source of nourishment are needed for blood to be ample, achieving the purpose of blood supplementation.
If qi and blood are not regulated, they cannot reach the uterus, and fertilization cannot occur. For menstrual disorders and infertility caused by spleen and kidney yang deficiency, lack of fire in the earth, spleen deficiency and dysfunction, and insufficient transformation and generation, nourishing the kidneys and tonifying the spleen is necessary. With continued nourishment, the transformation and generation of qi and blood can return to normal, and menstruation will become regular. This will make conception and pregnancy easier.
If the spleen and stomach qi is deficient, it will cause the closure of the qi at the waist and navel. When the qi at the waist and navel is closed, the dai mai becomes rigid and cannot withstand the force of the embryo. This will cause the sperm to directly shoot up into the uterus. Although the uterus can temporarily accommodate the embryo, it cannot support its growth, leading to miscarriage. Since the spleen and stomach are not strong enough to provide sufficient nourishment, the body fluids cannot nourish the embryo, and there is no warm blood to protect it. Therefore, even if conception occurs, the embryo may be expelled due to the weakness of the dai mai.
The prescription given by the doctor had the effect of strengthening the spleen and stomach, helping the woman to digest food properly. After a period of time, her spleen became stronger, and the absorption of nutrients improved. Her complexion became radiant, her energy increased, and her blood circulation became more favorable. Her menstrual cycle gradually returned to normal. After half a year of consistent spleen and stomach regulation, the woman mentioned earlier finally became pregnant.
